Stainless steel beverage container

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a beverage container for storing and dispensing beverages. The beverage container comprises a body member and a lid member capable of being removably attached to the body member. The body member includes a base portion, at least one sidewall, and a threaded neck portion. The at least one sidewall and the base portion configure a cavity. The lid member includes a top portion, and a skirt portion extending from a periphery of the top portion. Further, the skirt portion includes internal threads capable of mating with the threaded neck portion of the body member. Furthermore, the body member is made of stainless steel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority under 35 United States Code, Section 119 on the provisional application numbered 61046189 filed on Apr. 18, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to beverage containers, and, more particularly, to a stainless steel beverage container having non-toxic properties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic is a by-product of oil refining, and numerous processes are used to turn plastic into finished goods. Plastic products have become integral to daily lives of people. Plastic is used almost in every sphere of life and for multitude of purposes, which include packaging of food and drink, clothing, electronic gadgets, such as computers, phones, utensils, toys. Plastic is also used in construction of homes, offices, business establishments and the like. Plastic being versatile in terms of being lightweight, flexible, moisture resistant, durable, strong and relatively inexpensive, it is extensively used in the food industry for storage purposes. However, widespread use of the plastic has been a cause of great concern as plastic has been found to cause unprecedented environmental problems, as well as harboring serious health risks.

It has been observed and supported by research that ubiquitous plastic is an enormous source of landfill waste, as plastic is non-biodegradable and no naturally occurring organism can break plastic into constituents. As such the presence of plastic destroys fragile ecosystems.

In terms of health hazards, research has shown that chemicals leached from plastics used in cooking and in the storage of food and drink are harmful to human health, and especially to the health of children. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals than adults as their immune system and central nervous system are at a developing stage. Most plastic containers and bottles used for storage of food and drinks for infants and children contain toxic chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone (endocrine) disrupter and is believed to stimulate the growth of cancer cells, and exposure to BPA at a young age can cause genetic damage. BPA has also been linked to recurrent miscarriages in women. Further, phthalates have been linked to reproductive problems, early-onset puberty, liver and thyroid damage, and testicular cancer.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a container for food and beverages which is non-toxic and environment friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a container for storing and dispensing beverages, to include all advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container for storing and dispensing beverages which is lightweight, non-toxic, environment friendly, and is safe for indefinite reuse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for beverages which does not release toxic chemicals such as those found in plastic containers and, as such, avoids endangering the human lives (especially infants and children).

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a beverage container for storing and dispensing beverages is provided. The beverage container comprises a body member and a lid member capable of being removably attached to the body member. The body member includes a base portion, at least one sidewall, and a threaded neck portion. The at least one sidewall and the base portion configure a cavity. The lid member includes a top portion, and a skirt portion extending from a periphery of the top portion. Further, the skirt portion includes internal threads capable of mating with the threaded neck portion of the body member. Furthermore the body member is made of stainless steel.

This together with the other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterized the present invention, is pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of the present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a stainless steel beverage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of a body member of the stainless steel beverage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C illustrates a front perspective view of different structural configurations of a lid member of the stainless steel beverage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3D illustrates a silicone disc, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For a thorough understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. Although the present invention is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

The terms, “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The present invention provides a stainless steel beverage container for storage and dispensation of beverages which include, but are not limited to, water, fruit juice, infant formula, breast-milk, and milk. The present invention is a replacement of plastic containers and finds utility in multitude of places, especially in the food and beverage industry.

FIG. 1 illustrates a stainless steel beverage container 100 (hereinafter referred to as beverage container 100). The beverage container 100 is made of non-toxic materials such as stainless steel to overcome serious health risks associated with the use of plastic containers. The beverage container 100 comprises a body member 10 and a lid member 20 removably attached to the body member 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the body member 10 of the beverage container 100 is a cylindrical shaped structure having a base portion 12, at least one sidewall 14 configuring an opening 18, and a threaded neck portion 16. In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one sidewall 14 of the body member 10 may have a shape such that the body member 10 is easily held by infants and children in their hands, including, but not limited to, an hourglass shape.

FIG. 3A illustrates the lid member 20 of the beverage container 100, as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The lid member 20 is sized to cover the threaded neck portion 16 of the body member 10. The lid member 20 comprises a top portion 22 with a skirt portion 24 extending from a periphery of the top portion 22. The skirt portion 24 has internal threads 26 to mate with the threaded neck portion 16 of the body member 10. The lid member 20 is screwed onto the threaded neck portion 16 of the body member 10 to close the opening 18 of the body member 10. In one embodiment, a silicone ring is disposed upon the skirt portion 24 to permit the lid member 20, when engaged with the neck portion 16 of the body member 10, to form a seal for leak-proof storage of food or beverage in the beverage container 100.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the lid member 20 may have an aperture (not shown) to removably attach a nipple 30 with the lid member 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3B. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the present invention may have a mouth piece 32 removably attached within the aperture of the lid member 20. In an embodiment of the present invention, the nipple 30 and the mouth piece 32 may be made of silicone. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that appearance, structural configuration and the material comprising the body member 10, the lid member 20, the nipple 30, and the mouth piece 32 is set forth herein for purposes of illustration and that the present invention is not limited to the appearance, structural configuration or the material comprising the body member 10, the lid member 20, the nipple 30, and the mouth piece 32.

Referring to FIG. 3D, in another embodiment of the present invention, the beverage container 100 further comprises a silicone disc 28. The silicone disc 28 is capable of being disposed between the lid member 20 and the body member 10, such that the lid member 20, when attached to the body member 10, secures the silicone disc 28 between the lid member 20 and the body member 10. The silicone disc 28 is of sufficient size to completely cover the opening 18 of the body member 10. The silicone disc 28 is of sufficient flexibility such that when it is disposed between the lid member 20 and body member 10, the silicone disc 28 allows the internal threads 26 of the skirt portion 24 of the lid member 20 to mate with the threaded neck portion 16 of the body member 10. The silicone disc 28, when attached, forms a leak-proof seal between the body member 10 and the lid member 20. The attachment of the silicone disc 28 allows for safe and water-tight freezer, refrigerator, and/or to-go food and beverage storage. The silicone disc 28 is of sufficient flexibility to permit beverage expansion when the beverage container 100 is stored in a freezer. The silicone disc 28 also prolongs the life of the nipple 30 and is sufficiently resilient when subjected to heat such that it may be sterilized under sufficient heat.

In use, the body member 10 of the beverage container 100 is employed to hold a consumable liquid such as beverages and the lid member 20 is removably attached to the body member 10. More specifically, when the body member 10 is filled with the consumable liquid, the skirt portion 24 of the lid member 20 having the internal threads 26 is placed on the body member 10 to mate with the threaded neck portion 16 of the body member 10. To feed infants and children, the nipple 30 is attached to the aperture of the lid member 20. The beverage container 100 may also be used as a sipper cup by attaching the mouth piece 32 to the aperture of the lid member 20. Upon finishing contents in the body member 10, the lid member 20 may be removed for washing the beverage container 100. The beverage container 100 is also resilient to heat such that user may subject the beverage container 100 to sufficiently high temperatures to sterilize the beverage container 100 without damaging the beverage container 100.

In another use, the lid member 20 that does not comprise an aperture is attached to the beverage container 100 to obtain a leak-proof seal as described above. In such use, food and beverage may be stored, frozen, or heated. The silicone ring of the lid member 20 obviates the leaching of chemicals associated with plastic containers that are subjected to freezer and heating conditions.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. However, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the present invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the present invention and any such work around will also fall under scope of the present invention.

The stainless steel beverage container 100, as described herein, provides for storage and dispensation of beverages. The stainless steel beverage container 100 provides multitude of options to a user for storing and dispensing beverages, including, but not limited to, the body member 10 coupled with the lid member 20 (explained in conjunction with FIG. 3A) may be used for storing beverages, the body member 10 coupled with the lid member 20 having the nipple 30 (explained in conjunction with FIG. 3B) may be employed to feed infants with the content present in the stainless steel beverage container 100, or the body member 10 coupled with the mouth piece 32 (explained in conjunction with FIG. 3C) may be used as a sipper cup. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the stainless steel beverage container 100 may be of different structural configurations and that the present invention is not limited to the structural configurations as described herein.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 

1. A beverage container for storing and dispensing beverages, the beverage container comprising: a body member having a base portion, at least one sidewall, the at least one sidewall and the base portion configuring a cavity, and a threaded neck portion; and a lid member capable of being removably attached to the body member, the lid member having a top portion, and a skirt portion extending from a periphery of the top portion, the skirt portion having internal threads capable of mating with the threaded neck portion of the body member, wherein the body member is made of stainless steel.
 2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the lid member is made of stainless steel.
 3. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the body member is cylindrical in shape.
 4. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the lid member comprises an aperture.
 5. The beverage container of claim 4, wherein the aperture is capable of receiving at least one of a nipple and a mouth piece.
 6. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the skirt portion comprises a silicone ring permitting the lid member engaged with the neck portion of the body member to form a leak-proof seal.
 7. The beverage container of claim 1 further comprising a silicone disc capable of being disposed between the lid member and the body member to form a leak-proof seal between the lid member and the body member. 